Today is a big day in the NFL Lockout process as the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to make a ruling on the NFL’s request for a long term stay on the lockout. If the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals denies that request, then football is immediately back in business. Should that happen, though, the latest rumor/threat (reported by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk) from the NFL is that they will shut down their doors and go out of business completely. This ploy would be in an attempt to force the players to get back to the negotiation table and strongarm them into the deal they want. The idea is that the NFL wouldn’t be violating the court order to lift the lockout if they cease all operations.
We’ll see if this happens based on the ruling. Is this cause for concern?
Absolutely. Is it anymore of a cause for concern than anything that’s happen up to this point? Not really. It’s just the next evolution in the negotiation breakdown saga between the owners and the players. At the end of the day, this is still getting uglier in an attempt to get better. Both sides are getting as nasty as they can in an effort to get leverage before the two sides finally get back to the table. It’s a dangerous game of chicken though. At what point do bridges get burned if they haven’t been already?
The reason I’m starting to believe games will be missed is that neither side is showing any signs for panic. Instead, they’re both content to continue slinging mud. The NFL has shown it will skirt the court rulings however necessary to keep the upper hand. This latest threat is just another example. I just don’t think either side will panic until games are lost and their bottom line is effected. Then, people will start to panic. For that reason I think we should get comfortable, this might take a while.
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